I don't use the mixer - but that *does* sound right.
 
You don't want to echo in SONAR if the sound is also coming through your soundcard and into monitors/headphones.
 
There is no denying - this stuff is confusing. Sorry I can't help more, but I don't use the MOTU mixer. I just have a very simple setup - and do everything in SONAR (so I can use amp sim VSTs to monitor and record)
 

vladasyn
I appreciate your replies. Jim, what you mean by "monitor speakers are expecting a "line level" signal (-10dB or 0dB) and the MOTU is +4dB at the output."- what post/ question you addressing?
 

From your post above... about audible distortion.
"With my monitors IK Multimedia iLoud Micro at volume set at 2 or 3, it was distorted to a point that I could not tell what is wrong with the song."
 
Higher-end gear uses hotter +4dB signal level... to minimize noise.
Plug a device with -10dB output into another device expecting +4dB input... and the signal level will be very low.
Plug a device with a +4dB output into another device expecting -10dB or 0dB input... and the signal will be very hot.
 
Thus, the reason for the hot signal and distortion when connected to your iLoud Micro speakers.

I realize that everybody is struggling with time. I do appreciate all your help. It just that I have been working and working and working on it and I cant get it right. And having full time 40 hours a week day job is not helping at all. By the time I am home at night I am too tired and in a few hours it is already time to go to bed because I have to get up early again. So when I can find time to work on the studio, It has to be best spent. Looks like I am wasting days on trying to figure things out, so if somebody already knows, it would really help if they share. But thank you for your help again.
 
Looks like I have something working. I have my Motif keyboard connected to Analog 3-4, and it is set in Mixer to "Analog 3-4". The meter on that channel is moving.
I have "From Computer" channel, it set to "From Computer 1-2", and it playbacks the recorded tracks.
 
Here is the problem:
There 3 faders on the right:
1. Group 1-2
2. Monitor
3. Main Mix
 
There is button to Matrix and it offers- I would call them Outputs? It offers Headphones 1-2, Headphones 3-4, Monitor, Main and "To Computer".  I have to have Headphones, Monitors and Main selected at the same time to have sound in Headphones, Monitors and Mains. And all 3 are controlled by the same fader. So lets say- I want it loud in headphones but quiet in Mains- I cant do it unless I use physical knob on the Motu.
 
At the same time, there is "Monitor" fader next to it, it has the same options. I am thinking if I select Monitor Out for it, this fader would control the monitors. Not the case. I get no sound, unless Monitor is selected in Main fader. Also there is no Output fader for Headphones. I would like to have separate faders for each output.
 
Under "Device" I have Output Banks" and Phones, Monitors and Mains are enabled, so how come I have no Headphones Out fader in Mixer? And how come I can not control my Monitor with Monitor fader? It all goes to Main Mix. So how do I route it so that I would have exactly the same signals go to Main and Monitor and headphones but have separate faders for each?
 
In Matrix view I still have signal from "From Computer" and "From Computer Post Mix" not connected to anything. From Computer Post Mix created I think, when I connected "From Computer" to Mixer fader.
 
So everything comes to Main Mix, Main Mix assigned to Headphones, Monitors and Mains, but Fader "Monitor" has no sound when the same options selected. Why? Thank you very much.  
 
 

Thank you for your reply. Does it mean I figured it out? Great. yes, finding the right channels is hard- it has too many extra channels, moving everything to like 77-8, 9-10 and so on. 
 
Now I am wondering about the 3rd unit and the Ethernet box. Right now I have one side of the studio connected to MOTU, other side- to Presonus and I need to change ASIO driver from one to another to use both sides. Any better way to do it? Using Presonus as patch bay and run its output in to Motu Input? Don think it would ne great. 
 
Did you try to work MOTU with the Ethernet box and more than 2 units? Thank you. 

No, this Presonus mixer (StudioLive 24.4.2) has no ADAT or any other digital outputs.
 
I am thinking to buy 3rd MOTU, 16A- I need to connect left side of my studio. I tried to use Motu one day, Presonus another day, and it is not good, because ports get confused and so on.